“Non-hostile vessels… may – provided that they neither participate in nor support acts of aggression against Iran – and fully comply with the declared safety and security regulations – benefit from safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the competent authorities,” the statement said.

The IMO said Tuesday that the communique, dated Sunday, was issued by Iran’s foreign ministry with the request that it be circulated by the IMO. The IMO had shared it with member states and NGOs, it added.

The statement stressed that “vessels equipment and any assets belonging to the aggressor parties – namely the United States and the Israeli regime – as well as other participants in the aggression do not qualify for innocent or non-hostile passage”.

It said responsibility for “any disruption, insecurity or escalation of risks in this critical waterway” lay with the United States and Israel, which it accused of waging an “unlawful and destabilising war against Iran”.

Both countries, it said, had “endangered regional peace and stability and exposed international shipping to unprecedented threats”.

Iran has virtually closed the vital strait since the US-Israeli strikes that started the war on Feb 28, causing global oil and gas prices to soar.